Over the course of the past week, we went through an extensive recode of the RealTime Price Engine front end, in preparation to move the entire beta search capability off PHP/MySQL and onto ASP.NET/MSSQL. As a result, we have seen some interesting boosts in performance in several areas, but also unforeseen drawbacks in performance in others. We are real close to deploying the RTPE into AnandTech’s environment, so expect some pretty awesome changes to the engine in the next few weeks as we continue to migrate!

Also, feel free to check out our QuickSearch RSS feed to get a real time, abbreviated update on all of the best prices in our search engine. You also have the ability to suggest links for RTPE database here. As always, comments and suggestions are extremely appreciated.

Remember that on the AnandTech Price Engine, the graphs and charts from each page continually update, although the content does not.

Since our last CPU guide in January, Intel released the Pentium 6xx lineup and slowly began the trickle of 533FSB Pentium M processors out into the mass markets. AMD also made some significant changes to its product lineup by introducing the Turion 64 initiative; but unfortunately, over a month has rolled by and we are still waiting to see some retail samples.

Kris, your pricing engine lists the s754 Sempron 2600+ and 3000+ with a 256KB L2 cache option. There is no such chip. The 2600+ and 3000+ models only come in 128KB L2 cache. Look at the model number and see for yourself. Also, under your AXP Mobile pricing list, you don't show the 35w mobiles, which are just as plentiful and often a good alternative to the 45w ones. Just to let you know.Reply

It's worth noting that the long awaited Venice (E4 revision) A64 S939 3000+, 3200+, 3500+, and 3800+ parts will replace the current Winchester and Newcastle (3800+) processors on April 4. It will take them a week or two to get into retail, but they should be seriously overclockable, better than the current Winchesters.

On April 15, the 4000+ is transitioned from ClawHammer to San Diego (E3 revision), which is likely to be the cheapest 1MB cache version.

I've no idea what is happening with the A64 FX-55 or much rumored FX-57, but I suspect AMD could release a San Diego at 2.8 GHz if they wished, and rename the FX-55 as a 4200+ or 4300+.

The chip to get will have to be one of those mid-range Venice cores, as coupled with a good overclockable mobo you should be able to take it up to at least 2.7-2.8GHz if AMD/IBM have got the SoI plus strained-silicon fabrication working well. A Pentium 4 (or Pentium 5xx/6xx if they abandon the P4 name) just isn't worth considering when the A64 is so competitive.Reply

It might be nice if the Anandtech search engine could differentiate between OEM and retail.

I thought I had seen the Sempron 2600+ on Newegg cheaper than the one listed for Monarch so I checked. Newegg had the retail version for $77.99 (free shipping) while Monarch had the OEM for $78.00 (not sure but I think it also had free shipping).

This just shows that prices can change quickly, and you should allways compare the item and price for yourself.
Reply

"This week, the talk of the town seems to be ASUS’s clever little Socket 479 to Socket 478 adaptor, which enables any mild budget 865PE and 875P motherboard to compete with the high end 885GME motherboard solutions from DFI [RTPE: DFI 855GME 855GME-MGF] and AOpen [RTPE: AOpen 855GME i855GMEm-LFS]."

As yet, only a few Asus motherboards are supported - not "any mild budget 865PE and 875P motherboard."Reply